Cleaning system for vessels afloat



United States Patent [72] Inventor Henry J. Laney 2828 Regent St.,Berkeley, California 94705 [21] Appl. No. 748,532 [22] Filed July 29,1968 [45} Patented Nov. 24, 1970 [54] CLEANING SYSTEM FOR VESSELS AFLOAT10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl. 114/222, 15/183 [51] int. Cl. B63b 59/00; B60s 3/02 [50]Field of Search 114/222; 15/201,84,51,l83

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 560,646 5/1896 Reilly 114/222 622,232 4/1899 lnglis 114/222 834,399 10/1906 McLellau et al114/222 2,236,817 4/1941 Evans 15/183 3,010,420 11/1861 Glynn... 114/2223,085,541 4/1963 Leach 114/222 3,227,124 1/1966 Campbell 114/2223,296,643 1/1967 Fortune 15/201 Primary Examiner-Trygve M. BlixAssistant Examiner-James E. Pettenger Attorney- Flehr, l-lohbach, Test,Albritton & Herbert ABSTRACT: A cleaning system for cleaning underwaterhull portions of a vessel while afloat includes a cyclically operatedflexible cleaning assembly and a support assembly for urging thecleaning assembly into conformity with various underwater hullconfigurations. Means for towing the vessel through the cleaning systemexposes the underwater hull portions to the cleaning assembly as thehull moves past the cleaning assembly.

Patented Nov. 24, 1970 3,541,988

' 'Sheet 1 of 6 I INVENTOR :l HENRY u. LANEY #JAAM' Ma f M ATTORNEYSPatented Nov. 24, 1970 3,541,988

' Sheet 2 of6 INVENTOR. HENRY J. LANEY #AQZM F/ a. 5

ATTORNEYS v Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet INVENTOR.

' HENRY J. LANEY M ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet HENRY J. LANEY14 W ATTORNEYS I Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet INVENTOR.

w) w CL J. fln fl W E H Patented Nov. 24, 1970 Sheet 6 7 INVENTOR.

, HENRY J. LANEY CLEANING SYSTEM FOR V ESSELS AFLOAT BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION AND OBJECTS This inventionpertains to systems for cleaning theunderwater hull portions of a vessel while afloat. The invention moreparticularly pertains to a system of the foregoing type characterized bymeans for arranging cleaning portions of a carrier in a flexibleconfiguration which yieldingly conforms to widely varying underwaterhull shapes.

As is known by those skilled in this art, fouling of the immersedportions of vessels by marine growth constitutes an important problemwhich requires that the bottoms and underwater side portions of hulls becleaned. The method of cleaning which is selected by the owner of thevessel usually is dictated by the elapsed time since the hull was lastcleaned and the method that was previously employed for the priorcleaning. Thus, the temporal sequence for marine growth usually firstprovides soft growth in the nature of a partially visible slimeoccurring in'the first few days of immersion. The growth then forms mossand grasses which are yielding in nature when being cleaned away. Afurther stage of growth develops shells and barnacles of a rigid natureadhering to the hull.

Obviously, by cleaning the early stage of marine growth at regularrelatively short intervals, the full efficiency of the hull can bepreserved. Thus, there is a need for a system which can quickly andinexpensively clean the underwater portions, both side and bottomportions, of a hull while afloat. This objective is, therefore, ageneral object ofthe present invention.

It is another object of the invention to provide a hull cleaning systemwhich accomplishes the above general object for a wide varietyofunderwater hull shapes.

Other objects of the invention will be more readily apparent from thefollowing description ofpreferred embodiments.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION In general, the cleaning system comprises acleaning assembly and a support assembly. The cleaning assemblycomprises a flexible carrier provided with portions to work alongside anunderwater portion of the hull of the vessel being cleaned. The supportassembly comprises means to yieldingly force the cleaning assembly intointimate contact with the immersed portions of the hull, regardless oftheir shape, preferably by means oflinked underwater floats.

The system further contemplates, in the usual instance, means for towingthe vessel through the cleaning system whereby variously shapedunderwater hull portions of the vessel being cleaned will be disposedfor cleaning by the hull cleaning assembly.

Preferably, the foregoing general arrangement herein disclosed has beencarried out by employing underwater float means having positive buoyancywhich serves to yieldingly urge the cleaning assembly into theircleaning configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing acleaning system according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view showing a cleaning system accordingto the invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view taken transversely of the system shown inFIG. 2 and in enlarged detail showing a cleaning system according to theinvention when no boat or vessel is being cleaned;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the condition of the systemwith a vessel present therein for cleaning;

FIG. 5 is an elevation section view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4and in enlarged detail;

FIG. 6 is an end view of FIG. 5 partially broken away;

FIG. 7 diagrammatically illustrates another embodiment according to theinvention in an elevation view similar to FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an end view of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view showing another embodiment according tothe invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The cleaning system 10 is installedupon and in the water between a pair of opposed work platforms II whichform a slip 12 for passage of a vessel 13 therebetween to be cleaned.

One or more pairs of cleaning assemblies I4 may be employed in system10. Each cleaning assembly I4 includes a flexible carrier 16, cleaningunits 17 and the drive mechanism 18 for cyclically operating carriers16.

In the embodiments shown, the flexible carrier 16 com prises a linkedconveyor or belt 19 powered by drive mechanism 18. Cleaning units 17comprise brushes 21 attached to the outwardly facing side of carrier 16.

The pair of flexible carriers 16 are coupled together by weightedtension unit 22 which serves to draw the two carriers generally taut totheir respective support assemblies 23.

Each flexible support assembly 23, for the embodiment shown, includes aseries of linked floats 24 attached at one end to work platform 11 andto a float anchor assembly 26 at the other end. Float anchor assembly 26couples the two support assemblies 23 and weights them downwardly by aproper amount as explained further below. i

A pincer float unit 27 cooperates with both anchor assembly 26 and anumber or stretch" 28 of the linked floats 24.

Towing apparatus (FIG. 2) provides a relative movement between brushes21 and vessel 13 as does the cyclic movement of brushes 21 as driven bymechanism 18. The towing apparatus (FIG. 2) may simply comprise a towline 29, capstan 31 and winch 32.

From the foregoing, it should be understood that the buoyancy of thatstretch" 28 of floats 24 which are drawn downwardly'by float anchorassembly 26 serve, in conjunction with the buoyancy of pincer floatunits 27, to counterbalance the submerged weight of float anchorassembly 26 and the downward pull of tension unit 22.

Accordingly, in the "no-boat condition as shown in FIG. 3, thedisposition of carriers 16 will generally take a substantially righttriangular orientation wherein the outer-tips of brushes 21 will meetand form an interface 33 extending from the surface 34 of the waterdownwardly to a depth defined by the support points 36 which carrytension unit 22.

It will be further apparent that float anchor assembly 26 and theweighted tension unit 22 each move up and down independently of theother as a vessel 13 enters slip 12 and commences separation of the twoassemblies 14.

While it may be readily evident from the figures of the draw ing, eachpincer float unit 27 includes a relatively large buoyant body 37 whichis supported to the inside of the closed path defined by conveyor 19, bymeans of support arms 38, 39 which are each pivotally connected at theiropposite ends. Thus, one end of each arm 38,39 is common to body 37while the other end of each arm 38, 39 is coupled to the above defined"stretch" 28 of floats 24.

The bristles of brushes 21 are preferably of a suitable material wherebyconsiderable stiffness to the bristle will remain even though it shouldbe immersed in water for long periods. In addition, the bristles may beformed in a conventional style whereby they include an oval or otherconfiguration to form the transverse cross section thereof with aconfiguration which serves to enhance the stiffness of the bristle forremoving undesirable materials from the hull.

From inspection of the drawing, it will be relatively obvious that theunderwater portions of vessels can readily include a reversecurvaturewhereby the linked conveyor l9 preferably flexes or articulates in eachof two directions across a common plane drawn tangent thereto. Thus,each cleaning unit 17 further includes means for supporting the bristlesof brushes 2] whereby they may travel in a truly flexible path. Forexample, battens 40 are connected to form the articulated leavesof theendless belt I9 in 'a manner whereby one leaf of each pair of battens 40articulates across the plane of the other. The confronting side edges 45of each adjacent pair of battens 40 have therefore been undercut.

Operation of the system proceeds as follows. As a vessel 13 to becleaned enters the cleaning system, either under its own power or underthe action of tow lines 29, it gently pushes aside the contactingportions of the cleaning units 17. The drive mechanisms 18 are suitablyactivated causing both conveyor belts 19 to move, preferably in acontinuous cyclic path wherein portions of the cleaning units 17 movedownwardly alongside the hull ofthe vessel.

As the hull is drawn forwardly through the system, the support assembly23 on-each side of the vessel causes its associated cleaning assembly 14to yieldingly conform to the changing hull configuration, for example,taking a configuration as shown in FIG. 4. It is to be observed that theportions of the hull provided the increased hull displacement will serveto cause the float anchor assembly 26 and the weighted tension unit 22to sink deeper into the water. It is further to be observed that thedownward movement of these two units will be at a rate independent ofeach other so that throughout the downward movement of assembly 26 andunit 22 the brushes 21 will remain in intimate contact with the hull andfurther that floats 24 will not become bunchedand otherwise disorganizedbeneath the flexible carrier 16.

Throughout the transit of vessel 13 through the cleaning system 10,pincer float units 27 exert forces which insure that contact ismaintained along the entire underside of the bull.

in order to drive the flexible carrier- 16, it will be readily evidentthat battens 40 are each interconnected to the next by means ofconventional flat-top roller chain 41. Roller chain 41 is engaged by adrive sprocket 42. Lugs 43 carried on the ends of battens 40 providemeans for retaining carrier 16 against its underlying support assembly23.

The bristles of brushes 21 project on the order of about 12 inchesoutwardly from conveyor 19 in order to insure that the cleaning systemdoes not damage or strike projecting elements and portions of the hull,such as propellers, speed indicators and discharge outlets.

It will be further evident that the floats 24 are formed as a watertight body preferably made oflightweight but sturdy and water compatiblematerial, such as polyvinyl chloride plastic.

Floats 24 may be filled with a lightweight closed cellular material,such as Styrofoam, or other suitable material to further insureexclusion ofwater from entry into floats 24.

Roller elements 44 serve to insure that the conveyor battens 40 will beheld down relatively tightly against the cylindrical floats 24. it is tobe observed that the line of contact between rollers 44 and the lugportion 43 at each end of battens 40 lies in the plane of the rollerchain pivot axis 46 in order that the adjacent confronting edges of lugportions 43 can be relatively closely spaced so as to minimize the gapbetween adjacent battens notwithstanding flexing of the adjacentbattens. Gaps, if too large, could cause the rollers 44 to drop toodeeply between adjacent battens during cyclic movement of same.

According to another embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 7, 8and 9, the carrier and support functions of the foregoing constructionare combined. Accordingly, a flexible conveyor 51 provided with buoyantslats or battens 52 have been arranged in conjunction with a hold downassembly 53 which serves to prevent the lower returning portions of therotating conveyor 51 from floating upwardly against the active cleaningconveyor portions-Hold down assembly 53 further includes a weighteddownwardly acting tension linkage 54 which, though coupled to the lowerend of hold down as sembly 53, can move independently thereof by meansof the pivotally coupled arms 56.

It will be further evident that the hold down assembly 53 comprises anelongated strong back member in the form of a T-shaped beam 57 pivotallycoupled at its upper end to the work platform 58 and at its lower endcarrying via arms 56, the tension linkage 54.

In operation, the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 functions in a mannerwhereby the returning portions of the cyclically driven conveyor 51 willbe maintained safely below the downwardly moving active portions ofconveyor 51. The

buoyancy of each of the slats 52 serves to cause them to carry thebrushes 59 into'active engagement with the underwater hull portionsschematically shown in the drawing.

Another embodiment of the invention can be provided by substitutingelements of a type shown in FIG. 10 for portions of the arrangementdisclosed in FlGS. 3 and 4. Accordingly, the carrier and supportfunctions as heretofore described are combined in a manner whereby thecleaning means 61 comprises brushes 62 disposed around the outside of anumber of independent float elements 63. All floats 63 are rotated inunison via a series of drive chains 64 or other suitable means. Thelowermost floats 63 of each opposing carrier are linked together bymeans ofa weighted cross link 66.

I claim:

1. in a system for cleaning the hull of a vessel while afloat,characterized by a positioning system for disposing cleaning meansadjacent to a hull to be cleaned, said cleaning system being supportedindependently ofthe vessel to be cleaned and comprising an untensionedflexible carrier, adapted to freely displace laterally with respect tothe hull, to be disposed in the water and having a portion disposed toextend upwardly alongside the underwater portion of the hull, cleaningmeans arranged in a substantially continuous belt distributed along theupwardly extending carrier portion for cleaning said hull portion, meansserving to dispose said cleaning means into a configuration defined bythe configuration of said hull portion abreast of said cleaning means,and means serving to operate the carrier to develop relative movementbetween said cleaning means and said hull in cleaning underwaterportions of the hull positioned alongside said cleaning means.

2. in a system for cleaning the hull of a vessel while afloat, saidsystem being supported independently ofthc vessel to be cleaned andcomprising an elongated, untensioned flexible carrier, adapted to freelydisplace laterally with respect to the hull, to be disposed in thewater, said carrier including portions disposed to extend alongside anunderwater portion of the hull, cleaning portions arranged in asubstantially continuous belt distributed along the carrier for engaginghull portionsmeans including underwater float means having positivebuoyancy disposed and arranged to urge said cleaning portions laterallyinto a cleaning configuration defined by the hull configuration, andmeans for driving said cleaning portions along the carrier for cleaningthe hull.

3. Ina cleaning system according to claim 2 further including means formoving said hull to travel relatively adjacent said cleaning portions inengagement therewith, the penultimate named means yieldingly respondingto movement of said hull thereagainst to vary said cleaningconfiguration in response to variations in the configuration of theunderwater portions of the hull, and wherein said carrier forms a closedloop.

4. In a cleaning system according to claim 2 wherein said cleaningportions comprise a number of articulated brush elements coupledtogether to form said belt thereof.

5. In a cleaning system according to claim 4 wherein said belt forms anendless loop, and further including means for driving said loopcyclically in a predetermined direction to provide a relative movementbetween said belt and said hull portion for cleaning the latter.

6. in a cleaning system according to claim 4 wherein the brush elementsinclude pairs of leaves, means serving to couple the leaves of each pairto permit one leaf of the pair to articulate across the plane oftheother.

7. [n a cleaning system according to claim 3 further including a secondsaid carrier'disposed opposite the first, said hull moving means furtherserving to draw said hull between said confronting carriers and toyieldingly wedge the carriers apart during passage therebetween.

8. in a system for cleaning the hull of a vessel. while afloat, anelongated, flexible carrier to be disposed in the water, said carrierincluding portions disposed to extend alongside an underwater portion ofthe hull, cleaning portions distributed along the carrier for engaginghull portions, and means including underwater float means havingpositive buoyancy serving to urge said cleaning portions laterally intoa cleaning configuration, said underwater float means including abuoyant body and a stretch of connected buoyant elements underlying thecleaning portions of said carrier. first and second arm membersrespectively coupled at one oftheir ends to said body, the other one oftheir'respective ends being pivotally coupled to said stretch ofelements, and tensioning'means serving to continuously draw said stretchof buoyant elements downwardly to cause said body to tend to move saidstretch and the cleaning portions of said carrier toward the hull.

9. In a system for cleaning the hull of a vessel while afloat, saidsystem being supported independently of the vessel to be cleaned andcomprising an elongated, untensioned flexible carrier, adapted to freelydisplace laterally with respect to the hull, to be disposed in thewater, said carrier including portions disposed to engage upwardlyextending underwater side portions of the hull,cleaning portionsarranged in a substantially continuous belt distributed along thecarrier for engaging said hull portions, means including underwaterfloat means having positive buoyancy disposed and arranged to urge saidcleaning portions into a cleaning configuration defined by said hullportions. the last-named means yieldably responding to movement of saidhull thereagainst to vary said cleaning configuration in response tovariations in the configuration of said hull portions.

10. In a system for cleaning the hull of a vessel while afloat, saidsystem being supported independently of the vessel to be cleaned andcomprising an elongated, untensioned flexible carrier belt, adapted tofreely displace laterally with respect to the bull, to be disposed inthe water, cleaning means arranged in a substantially continuous traincarried by said belt laterally adjacent to underwater hull portions,buoyant means to be disposed underwater for urging a stretch of saidbelt and cleaning means into yielding conformity with said bull to varythe belt a configuration in response to variations in the underwaterconfiguration of the hull, and means serving to develop relativemovement between said cleaning means and said hull to clean underwaterportions of the hull.

